The Key Elements of Deterrence in Dealing with the Chinese Challenge: A Discussion with Ross Babbage

05/15/2023
By Robbin Laird I met with Ross Babbage on 5 April 2023 in Canberra to discuss his new book and his assessment of the way ahead in building credible deterrence of the China of President Xi. Ross Babbage in his new book, The Next Major War: Can the U.S. and…

Rear Admiral Jeffrey Jablon on the U.S. Pacific Submarine Force

05/12/2023
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Honolulu during the last week of April 2023, I had a chance to meet with Rear Admiral Jeffrey Jablon, the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC) commander. We disscused the evolving role of the submarine fleet in the challenging environment of the Pacific.…

Australia’s Joint Operations Command: The Perspective of Air Vice-Marshal Michael Kitcher

05/12/2023
By Robbin Laird During my March-April 2023 visit to Australia. I had a chance to meet with Air Vice-Marshal Michael Kitcher, Deputy Chief Joint Operations (DCJOPS) and to talk with him about the Joint Operations Focus on regional defence after a long period in the Middle East. AVM Kitcher is…

The Role of Maritime Autonomous Systems: Mission Thread Capabilities to Meet the Needs of Modern Warfare

05/11/2023
By Robbin Laird If you are looking at the potential role of maritime autonomous systems from the standpoint of traditional acquisition approaches, the legacy concept of platforms, and are not focused on the priority for software transient advantage in modern warfighting, then you will totally miss what the coming of…

MAWTS-1 Works Mobile Basing and Support for the Distributed Joint Force

04/26/2023
By Robbin Laird Ever since 2018, MAWTS-1 has focused on the high-end fight component of the full spectrum of warfare. Force distribution is a key part of the survivability against a competitor who has significant firepower and can concentrate fires on relatively fixed positions. The Marines have worked mobile basing…

Night Tactics Training at WTI 2-23

04/24/2023
The featured photo shows a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), participating in a night tactics exercise, during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, March 31, 2023. The other photos show…

Consulate Evacuation Training at WTI 2-23

04/21/2023
U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, set security in a simulated consulate evacuation training event during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-23 at Deuce Village, near Yuma, Arizona, April 5, 2023. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics…

Close Air Support Training at WTI 2-23

04/19/2023
U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Thomas J. Dye, from Jacksonville, Florida, a Tactical Air Control Party program manager assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), uses a portable lightweight designator rangefinder during a close air support exercise, part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-23, at…